from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

The Babcock situation is not the first priority on Dubas’ busy summer schedule, but it is a priority of some kind. While the assumption is Babcock will return as head coach, there may be some staff changes or internal alterations to aid coaching in the future — and some conversations about how Babcock can move forward as a coach.

Dubas won’t say it out loud, but he couldn’t have been happy with Babcock’s playoff performance, as many weren’t. When asked a question about it at the Leafs’ wrap-up yesterday, he did his own version of the two-step.

Dubas was asked directly: “Were you satisfied with the coaching in Game 7?”

His answer was not at all direct.

“If anything, when you’re evaluating a micro-event, you start to get in trouble when you’re running a franchise,” he said. “I know everybody would like me to give a condemnation or a massive vote of support for one single game. When you have an 89-game season and a year’s-long track record, I thought our coaching staff did a good job with our group.”

Dubas, himself, took the blame for the Leafs’ loss in Game 7, took the blame for the Leafs’ lousy penalty-killing in the playoffs, pointed fingers at himself rather than anyone else.

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